Spiraea plant named ‘Tracy’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Spiraea  plant named ‘Tracy’, characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; during the spring, developing leaves are orange red in color and become bright yellow in color with development; during the summer, developing leaves are greyed orange in color and become yellow green in color with development; numerous large dark pink-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Spiraea fritschiana×Spiraea japonica.

Cultivar denomination: ‘TRACY’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Spiraea plant, botanically known as Spiraea fritschiana×Spiraea japonica and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Tracy’.

The new Spiraea plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Grand Haven, Mich. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new Spiraea cultivars with attractive leaves and flowers.

The new Spiraea plant originated from a cross-pollination in 2003 of Spiraea fritschiana ‘Wilma’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,397, as the female, or seed, parent with an unnamed seedling selection of Spiraea japonica, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Spiraea plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor in 2005 as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Grand Haven, Mich.

Asexual reproduction of the new Spiraea plant by softwood cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Grand Haven, Mich. since the summer of 2005 has shown that the unique features of this new Spiraea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Spiraea have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Tracy’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Tracy’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Spiraea:

-   -   1. Upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. During the spring, developing leaves are orange red in color         and become bright yellow in color with development; during the         summer, developing leaves are greyed orange in color and become         yellow green in color with development.     -   5. Numerous large dark pink-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Spiraea can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Wilma’. Plants of the new Spiraea differ from plants of ‘Wilma’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Spiraea and ‘Wilma’ differ in leaf color as         plants of ‘Wilma’ have green-colored leaves.     -   2. Plants of the new Spiraea have darker-colored flowers than         plants of ‘Wilma’.

Plants of the new Spiraea can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Spiraea differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Spiraea are larger than plants of the male         parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Spiraea and the male parent selection         differ in developing leaf color as plants of the male parent         selection have red-colored developing leaves.     -   3. Plants of the new Spiraea have larger flowers than plants of         the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Spiraea can be compared to plants of the Spiraea japonica ‘Gold Flame’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Grand Haven, Mich., plants of the new Spiraea differed from plants of ‘Gold Flame’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Spiraea were larger than plants of ‘Gold         Flame’.     -   2. Plants of the new Spiraea and ‘Gold Flame’ differed in         developing leaf color as plants of ‘Gold Flame’ had red-colored         developing leaves.     -   3. Plants of the new Spiraea had larger flowers than plants of         ‘Gold Flame’.     -   4. Plants of the new Spiraea had lighter pink-colored flowers         than plants of ‘Gold Flame’.

Plants of the new Spiraea can also be compared to plants of the Spiraea japonica ‘Walbuma’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,363. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Grand Haven, Mich., plants of the new Spiraea differed from plants of ‘Walbuma’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Spiraea were faster growing than plants of         ‘Walbuma’.     -   2. Plants of the new Spiraea not as broad as plants of         ‘Walbuma’.     -   3. Plants of the new Spiraea and ‘Walbuma’ differed in leaf         color as plants of ‘Walbuma’ had gold-colored leaves.     -   4. Plants of the new Spiraea were more freely flowering than         plants of ‘Walbuma’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Spiraea plant, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Spiraea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Tracy’ grown in an outdoor nursery during the summer.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical vegetative plant of ‘Tracy’ grown in an outdoor nursery during the spring.

The photograph on the third sheet is a close-up view of typical inflorescences and leaves of ‘Tracy’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants of the new Spiraea grown in an outdoor nursery in Grand Haven, Mich. during the spring and early summer and under conditions which closely approximate commercial production. Plants were three years old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Spiraea fritschiana×Spiraea japonica     ‘Tracy’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Spiraea fritschiana ‘Wilma’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,397.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed seedling selection of             Spiraea japonica, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By softwood cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 20 days at 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About three months at             25° C.         -   Root description.—Fine to thick, fibrous; cream to brown in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial shrub; upright,             outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous             growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with about seven             primary lateral branches; pinching (removal of terminal             apices) will enhance lateral branch development.         -   Plant height.—About 60 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 65 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 20 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color, spring.—Close to 147D tinged with close to 34A.         -   Color, summer.—Close to 147D. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate or whorled, simple.         -   Length.—About 4 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Doubly serrate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color, spring.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 34A. Fully expanded leaves, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 8A; venation, similar to surface color.         -   Color, summer.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 177B to 177C. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 151A; venation, similar to surface color. Fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 145A; venation,             similar to surface color.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 144C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower appearance/arrangement.—Single rotate flowers             arranged in compound corymbs; freely flowering habit with             usually about 200 flowers per inflorescence; flowers face             mostly upright.         -   Natural flowering season.—Continuous flowering from the late             spring through the summer in Grand Haven, Mich.         -   Fragrance.—Mildly fragrant; sweet, pleasant.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 4 cm to 8 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5 mm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 5 mm.         -   Flower bud.—Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Shape:             Globose. Color: Close to 66A.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Single whorl of five. Length:             About 2 mm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape: Orbicular. Apex:             Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 66C. Fully opened, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 66D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Single whorl of five. Length:             About 1 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Rounded. Apex: Acute.             Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper             surface: Close to 186A. When opening, lower surface: Close             to 185A. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 145A; towards             the margins, close to 58A. Fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 58A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to             146D.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to             146D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity per flower:             About 18. Anther shape: Globose. Anther length: About             0.25 mm. Anther color: Close to 64A. Amount of pollen:             Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 8D. Gynoecium: Quantity per             flower: One. Pistil length: About 1 mm. Style length: About             0.75 mm. Style color: Close to 60B. Stigma appearance:             Globose. Stigma color: Close to 60B. Ovary color: Close to             182C.         -   Seeds.—Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm. Color:             Close to 161C. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Spiraea have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about −29C to about 37° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Spiraea have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Spiraea. 

1. A new and distinct Spiraea plant named ‘Tracy’ as illustrated and described. 